Massaging and washing fixture



`2 sheets-sheet 1 P. o. SICHER-r MASSAGING AND WASHING FIXTURE Filed'DeO.

April 7, 1931.

.6 ATTORNEY.

April 7, 1931. P. o. slcHERT MASSAGING AND WASHING FIXTURE Filed Dec. 4, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. PAI/L O. SCHE,

a( Mamma.

'4 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 7, 1931 Unirse `vsfiiarns BAT-ar OFFICE PAUL 0. SICHERT, OF'WEST NIEWVb YORKJ NEW JERSEY MASSAGINGrv AND WASHING FIXTURE Application filed December 4, 1928. SerialNo. 323,633.

L persons of different height and they arefpreferably arranged to swingaround vert-ical supporting means, attached tothe wall, so tha't the device may beused' above the bath tub as well as next to the bath tub and so that it can be swung to lie flat against or to lit into the wall, out of the way, when not in use. llhis indicates the major objects of my device and some other objects ofV my improvements are, first, to provide a massaging or washing member operatively impinging upon the back of the user and reciprocatingly moved upand down, along the back of the user; second, to have said rotative member impinge upon the `back of the user in4 thrustwise abutment;

third` to provide flexibility in the support of said member, to permit adaptation to thel curvature of the back ofthe user; fourth, to guide the reciprocations of said member along a substantially vertical line; fifth, to have said member tensionally impinging upon the back of the user so that he or she may increase or decrease the force with which said member engages his or her back;4 sixth, to provide means on said member to replace the part actually engagingthe back of the user, using either massaging or washing means, as the user may prefer; seventh, to provide means to adjust the length of the stroke of the reciprocations ofl said massaging or washing member; eighth, to limit the reciprocating parts of myv device to the parts which actually serve to engage theback of the user, thus reducing the weightof the reciprocating parts toa minimum; ninth, to use lever motions in the construction of my device `to assure easy and noiseless movement. Having: in mind these objects and others, which wi1l1be brought-forth in the following,'-I have developedmy dev-ice along lines illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a top view of one form of my device the top wall of the enclosure being sectioned away to more fully illustrate the mechanism of my improvements.

Figure 2 shows a corresponding side view, the enclosure and the parts of my improvements outside of the enclosure being shown sectioned along the horizontal center line of Figure 1. v

Figures 3 and 4 show similar top and side views of" a modification of my device, the drawings including means for hinging my device upon a wall or upon a vertical` support along which the position of its heights may be adjusted. T he device is provided with a lid or hinged cover. on one side, which is omitted in the view of Figure 4, said view not being sectioned in the manner of the view of Figure 2 but the sections being limited to some of the rotating parts, forthe purpose of illustrating the mechanism in the back.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various views.

In Figure 1 the enclosure of' my improvements is indicated by a bottom plate 5, over which lits the casing 6, the edge of the open end of said casing being suitably fastened around said plate 5. Upon the plate 5 are mounted the motor 7 and the bracket 8. A.. worm 9 on the end of the motor engagesa worm wheellO which is mounted on a shaft rotatable in bracket 8. The shaft with the worm wheel 10 is axially retained in rotative abutment in' bracket 8 by a bevel gear 11, said bevel gear 11 meshing into a bevel pinion 12 which forms part of a bushing 13, rotatably mounted in a swinging bracketV 14. Said swinging bracket 14 is rotatably fulcrumed, by means of a shaft 15, upon a bracket 16 which is' substantially similar and parallel to bracket 8, the shafts 'in the two brackets being coaxially disposed. Upon the end of the shaft supporting worm wheel 10 andy bevel gear 11 is mounted, next to the worm wheel 10, the crank lever 17; the arm 18 of lever 17 adjustably carries a shoulder "stud 19, which is set upon arm 18 by wing nut 20,

and upon which is .rotatable the connecting link 21. The adjustability of this shoulder stud 19 in the arm 18 of the lever 17 permits that stud to be set at varying distances from the pivot of the lever 17, and thereby enables the operator to regulate and vary the length of the reciprocating stroke of the rod 27 and the rotating, reciprocating, massaging or washing member carried thereon. The other end of connecting link 21 is hinged upon a lever unit 22 which is ulcrumed upon brackets 8 and 1G, on pins 23. Upon the free ends of said lever unit 22 is rotatably hinged the connecting ink 24 between the ends 25 of which is rotatably retained, between the pivoted ends of screws 26, the swinging bracket 14.

If the worm wheel is rotated by the worm 9, after motor 7 has been started, the crank lever 17 will bring about the reciprocation of lever unit 22, which is transmi ted to the swinging bracket 14 by means of connecting link 24. Said swinging bracket 14 swings back and forth around stud 15, bevel pinion 12 remaining engaged in bevel gear 11. The rotation of bevel gear 11 is transmitted to bevel pinion 12 and the rotation of the bevel pinion also rotates the rod 27, said rod being operatively connected to said pinion by means of a pin 28, slidable in slot 29 on the hub 30 of said pinion.

The casing G has a long slot 31 along its side, along the sides of which, up to the ends of the casing, extend the recesses 32 in which slides the slab 33. In said slab is a round opening 34 which is countersunk on one side by recess 35, the hub 36 or cup 37 being rotatably seated in said recess. In the cup 37 is removably fastened the brush 38. Into the hub 36 of the cup is connected, by ball joint 39, the end of rod 27, the hub 36 being retained in recess by the tension of spring 40 which is compressed between the shoulder 41 on the end of rod 27 and between the hub 30 of bevel pinion 12.

The slab 33 is of such length as to cover up the opening 31 during the reciprocations of slab 33 along the recesses Recess 35 does not have to be square but it may be concavely spherical, the end of hub 36 having a corresponding convexly spherical shape.

In Figures 3 and 4 a spur gear 42 is driven by spur pinion 43 mounted on the end ot the shaft of motor 44. Motor 44 is mounted on the side wall 45 oiz the casing of my improvements. The above spur drive takes, in these drawings, the place of the worm drive of the modiiication of Figures 1 and 2. In the modiiication of Figures 3 and 4 the spur gear 42, the crank lever 17 and the bevel gear 11 are rotatably mounted in a supporting bracket, similar to the construction of Figures 1 and 2, but in this case the supporting bracket 43 extends from the side wall 45 and the bevel pinion 12 is rotatably mounted on the saine bracket 46, and retained on said bracket by the collar 47. The arm 18 of the crank lever 17 has a T-slot 48 which retains the shoulder stud 19 with wing nut 2O on its ends. rlhe connecting link 21 connects to a lever 49, which is fulcruined in bracket and the functions of which correspond to the iunctions of lever unit 22 of Figures 1 and 2. 'lf he end of lever 49 is connected by link 51 to a hub 52 on the bottom of slide 53 which is slidable in a correspondingly shaped groove in the wall 54 of the casing. Over said wall 54 of the casing locks the lid or hinged cover 55. The casing itself astens by a hinge 55 upon the wall 57 or upon other vertical supporting means on which the height ot the device may be adjusted up or down.

Onto the shaft of the bevel pinion 12 is connected, by ball joint 58, the sleeve 59 in which is axially slidable the rod GO, pin 61 on said rod sliding in slot G2 of sleeve 59. Ball G3 forms an integral part of rod 60 and is rotatably seated in the slide 53. Spring G4 extending on rod between the end of sleeve 59 and a shoulder G5 on rod GO serves to steady the rod in the sleeve. But parts 64 and 65 can be dispensed with, it the rod and sleeve are fitted together and ball 63 and slide 53 are fitted together with reasonable mechanical accuracy.

The reciprocations of the rod GO corresponding to the reciprocations of the lever 49 are brought about by the crank lever 17 in a manner corresponding to the reciprocations of rod 27 in the modification of Figures 1 and 2. The free end of rod 60 extends into a sleeve 66, in which it is retained by pin 67 sliding in slot 68. A spring 69, extending be tween sleeve G6 and shoulder 70, serves to tension the cup 71, which is hinged upon the end of sleeve 66 in a ball joint 72, in a direction away from the device. The cup 71 serves to replaceably hold the massaging member 73. The massaging member 73 may be replaced by a brush member 38 or by any other massaging, brushing or washing means I choose to use in connection with my device. rFlic functions of my device are evident from the above description, which shows that the massaging or brushing member is rotated by the driver, it is reciprocated by the crank motion of the driving mechanism, and said member is guided to reciprocate along a substantially straight line by the reciprocation of slab 33 along grooves 32 in Figures 1 and 2 and ot' the slide 53 in the modification of Figures 3 and 4. I have chosen the sliding means of Figures 1 and 2 to illustrate how the casing containing the operative mechanism may be completely closed, the slab 33 extending over the opening 31 at all times. I illustrate the sliding of the modiiication of Figures 3 and 4 to illustrate in how simple a manner the slide may retain the rod. It is well understood that the respective advantages of the two modilications may be incorporated in one `massaging or Washing member along a substantially straight line. The rod supporting said member maybe made so-long, that the arc through which the end of'said rod swings in the reciprocative motions becomes, for practical, purposes a straight line. As another method to, cause the line of reciprocation or" said member to be substantially straight, I may resort to the use of a cam or guide, controlling the distance to. which the endofrod 27m Figures l4 and 2, With shoulder 4l, extends from the hub 30 `of the bevel pinion. By the application-of this or other methods the use offy the guide slab 33 or of the slide 53 may be avoided.

It is understoodthat Ido not Want to limit the scope of my invention to the exact means illustrated in the accompanying drawings. For the sliding, reciprocating motion may be used a carriage or slide Which is operated by acrank, and the rotatable massaging or wasliing member `may be mounted on said carriage or slide androtation may be imparted to it by an independent source of power mounted on said carriage or slide, or` by an operative connection to the stationaryV driving unit which operates the crank. rIhe bevel ing may be replaced by helical gears, and other modcsof flexiblejoints may tak-e the place of the ball-jointillustrated, or rubber couplings may be used in `place of these joints to preserve the flexibility of the massagingv or Washing membeigwhich allows it tofolloiv the curvature ofthe body of the user. Ii have shown an electric motor as driving means for my device but other means may be used and for many` purposes a-.hydraulic prime mover may 4suggest;v itself to cause the necessary rotating and reciprocating motions. It may also be desirable to use tubing and Water tight couplings in place of the rods and other joints, so that Water may be introduced into the rotating part from its end, which would play, through the massaging or Washing means, upon the back of the user.

Thus many minor or major modifications, falling Well Within the scope of my invention, suggest themselves to those acquainted with the arts to which my improvements pertain.. I desire to obtain by this patent a broad protection which is only limited by the pres-ent state of the respective arts and by the apu pendeol claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a massaging and washing ixture, a rotating driving head, a rotatable massaging or Washing member adapted to treat the body of the user ofsaid fixture,- a universal coupling joining said driving head and said rotatable member effecting the continuous rotation of the latter, and means to continuously reciprocate said rotatable member alongl a line substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rotatable member.`

2. A massaging and Washing-fixture, comprising a frame, a rotatable massaging or Washing member adapted to treat the body of the user of said fixture, a rockable support for said rotatable member r-eciprocatably 1nounted in said frame, a continuously rotating mechanism operatively connectedl to said rotatable member to efiect its continuous rotation, and a reciprocating mechanism operatively connected to said roclrablesupport to effect the continuous reciproaction of said support and member.

3. A massaging and Washing lixture, comprising a frame, a rotatable massaging or Washing member adapted to rotate in thrust- Wise abutmentY against the body of the `user oIn said fixturearocl;able support for said member reciprocatably mounted in said frame, a continuously rotating mechanism operativelyv connected to Said member to effect its continuous rotation.

Il; A massaging andwashing ixture, comprising a frame, a rotatable massagingA or Washing member adapted torotate in thrust- Wise abutment' against the bodyof the user or" said lixture, a rockableV support for! said member reciprocatably mounted in said frame, a` rotating mechanism operatively connected to said member to effect its rotation, a reciprocating mechanism operatively connected to said support to effect its reciprocation, and means guiding the reciprovcative movement offsaid member along a substantially straight. line.

Y 5. A massaging anclwvasliing fixture, comprising a frame, a rotatable shaft, a support for said rotatable shaft, reciprocaitably mounted in said frame, a continuously rotating mechanism operatively connected to and continuouslyv rotating said rotatableV shaft, aA reciprocating mechanism operatively connected to said supportl and a: rotatably. massagingorwvashing member flexibly jointed to said'rotatable shaft and rotate therewith and adapted to,v axially impinge upon the body of the user of said fixture.

6. A massaging and'Washing fixture, comprising. frame, a mechanism on said frame vvithV rotating and reciprocating driving means, arotatablelever,A fulcrumed to reciprocate around a horizontal axis'v and` operatively connectedto the rotatlngmeansof said mechanism toeffect the rotation of; said loyer,

al rotatable massaging or Washing member adapted to rotate in thrustwise abutment against the body of the user of said fixture and flexibly jointed to the end of said rotatable lever, and means rotatably retaining said lever and said rotatable member, operatively connected to the reciprocating driving means of said mechanism to effect the reciprocative movement of said lever and rotating member.

7. A massaging and Washing fixture, comprising a frame, a rotatably7 massaging or Washing member adapted to rotate in thrust- Wise abutment against the body of the user of said fixture, a swinging arm supporting said member rotatably thereon, reciprocatably mounted in said frame, a rotating mechanism operatively connected to said member to effect the rotation thereof, and a reciprocating mechanism operatively connected to said arm to effect the reciprocative movement thereof.

8. A massaging and Washing fixture, comprising a frame, a rotatable massaging or Washing member adapted to rotate in thrust- Wise abutment against the body of the user of said fixture, a swinging arm supporting said member rotatably thereon, reciprocatably mounted in said frame, a rotating mechanism operatively connected to said member to efi'ect the Vrotation thereof, a reciprocating mechanism operatively connected to said arm to effect the reciprocative movement thereof, and means guiding the reciprocative movement of said member along a substantially straight line.

9. A massaging and Washing fixture, comprising a frame, a rotatable massaging or Washing member adapted to rotate in thrust- Wise abutment against the body of the user of said fixture, a support for said member reciprocatably mounted in said frame, a rotating mechanism operatively connected to said member to effect the rotation thereof, a reciprocating mechanism operatively connected to said support to effect the reciprocative movement thereof, and means for regulating t-he length of the stroke of the reciprocations of said member.

10. A massaging and Washing fixture, comprising a frame, a rotatable massaging or Washing member adapted to rotate in thrust- Wise abutment against the body of the user of said fixture, a support for said member reciprocatably mounted in said frame, a rotating mechanism operatively connected to said member to effect the rotation thereof, a reciprocating mechanism operatively connected to said support to effect the reciprocative movement thereof, means guiding the reciprocative movement of said member along a substantially straight line, and means for regulating the length of the stroke of the reciprocations of said member.

11. In a massaging and Washing fixture,

the combination of a frame, a rotatable massaging or Washing member adapted to treat the body of the user, a rockable support for said rotatable member reciprocatably mounted in said frame, and a continuously rotating mechanism, operatively connecte-d to said rotatable member and reciprocatable support, to simultaneously effect the continuous rotation of said rotatable member, and the continuous reciprocation of said support.

12. In a massaging and Washing fixture, the combination of a frame, a rotatable massaging or washing member adapted to treat the body of the user, a rockable support for said rotatable member reciprocatably mounted in said frame, a continuously rotating mechanism operatively connected to said rotatable member, to effect its continuous rotation, and a reciprocating mechanism operatively connected to said rockable support, to effect the continuous reciprocative movement of said support and rotatable member, simultaneously With the rotation of said rotatable member.

13. In a massaging and Washing fixture, the combination of a frame, a rotatable massaging or Washing member adapted to treat the body of the user, a rockable support for said rotatable member reciprocatably mounted in said frame, and a continuously rotating mechanism, operably connected to said rotatable member and reciprocatable support, to automatically and simultaneously effect the continuous rotation of said rotatable member, and the continuous reciprocat-ion of said support.

14. In a massaging and Washing fixture, the combination of a frame, a rotatable member adapted to treat the body of the user, a rockable support for said rotatable member, reciprocatably mounted in said frame, and a continuously rotating driving mechanism common to and connected to both said rotatable member and said reciprocatable support, to automatically and simultaneously effect the continuous rotation of said rotatable member, and the continuous reciprocation of said support.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 1st day of December, A. D. 1928.

PAUL O. SICHERT. 

